226 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



After a few ineffectual efforts, in which my steed 

 showed an inclination to differ from me in opinion, we 

 jogged on comfortably for several miles on the edge of 

 prairie and timber, the usual markings of a water- 

 course. The sun was near mid-day, and still no game 

 was to be seen. No game, in quiet, retired situations 

 like this, is an unhealthy sign. Game are not in the 

 habit of leaving a favourite feeding- ground without 

 reason, and where we were was well known as such. 

 Discouraged at want of success, I dismounted, fastening 

 up Bucephalus, and took my pipe again into confidence. 

 On an old rotten limb of a partially-decayed button- 

 wood a family of redheaded woodpeckers were busily 

 at work, making the wood echo with the violence of 

 their tapping. Watching the sprightly movements of 

 these active little beauties, I became totally absorbed in 

 their energetic pursuits, when a half snort and uneasy 

 movement on the part of Broomstick caused me to 

 look round, and well I did so, for about forty yards off, 

 leisurely feeding, were about thirty full-grown wild 

 turkeys. My smooth-bore had ball in each barrel, still 

 as I had two or three loads of buck-shot, I determined 

 to substitute the one for the other. Behind a log like 

 a snake I glided to perform the change of missiles, and 

 was about to draw the last fragment of myself out of 

 sight, when the confounded warning of a rattlesnake 



